D5 Championship: Defense helps Reedsville gain crown

Southwestern was cruising along at a 50 percent shooting rate while scoring 33 points in the first half of Saturday's WIAA Division 5 state championship game with Reedsville. And then Reedsville decided that was enough of that. The Panthers' swarming defense, quick hands and correct rebounding position helped to limit Southwestern to 26 percent shooting and a measly 15 points after intermission. The result? The first WIAA state championship since 1946 for the Manitowoc County school. Reedsville made enough shots and played about as well as possible on defense for the final 18 minutes to post a 56-48 victory at the Kohl Center in Madison. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2617712' first='Arden' last='Strenn'] was the player of the game for Reedsville as the physical and skilled 6-foot-3 forward finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. All but one of Strenn's rebounds came at the defensive end of the court, helping to limit second-chance opportunities for Southwestern. Of course, senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'] also had his usual strong performance for the Panthers. The son of Reedsville coach Ron Prochnow had 19 points, four rebounds and eight assists to close out a remarkable four-year career that included 1,804 points and 84 victories. Reedsville led 35-33 at intermission and took the lead for good on a turnaround jump shot in the lane from Prochnow with 9:32 left. Although Southwestern remained within striking distance until the final minutes of the game, the Wildcats simply could not string together enough baskets to overcome Reedsville. Southwestern was led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022264' first='Remi' last='Lawrence'], [player_tooltip player_id='2917231' first='Cayden' last='DeMuth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2551616' first='Aiden' last='Keleher'] as all three finished with 13 points for coach Clint Nemitz's squad. The Wildcats came into the state tournament as the most prolific three-point shooting team in the D5 field. However, they made just five-of-24 tries from deep for 21 percent against Reedsville's effective defense. Reedsville, champions of the Big East North Conference, concludes its season with a 28-3 record and now is 5-0 in state-tournament games, finishing 3-0 to win the one-class event in 1946 and 2-0 this time around in capturing the D5 championship. Southwestern, which finished third in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League but did split its two outings with league-champion Darlington, completes its season with a 24-7 mark and now is 2-2 in state-tournament games going 1-1 this season and 1-1 and losing the Class C title game in overtime to Greenwood in 1988. BOXSCORE Southwestern (33-15 = 48) Lawrence 13, Keleher 13, Splinter 7, DeMuth 13, D. Martin 0, S. Martin 2, Reuter 0, Foley 0, C. Keleher 0, Stangl 0, Hendricks 0, Bauer 0. Three-point field goals made: A. Keleher 2, Lawrence 1, Splinter 1, DeMuth 1. FT: 1-3. Fouled out: Splinter. Record: 24-7. Reedsville (35-21 = 56) Taddy 9, Strenn 20, B. Prochnow 19, Z. Prochnow 2, Schwahn 6, McDonald 0, Christensen 0, Schwahn 0, DeCleene 0, Preston 0. Three-point field goals: Strenn 3, Schwahn 2. FT: 11-15. Fouled out: None. Record: 28-3.

Southwestern was cruising along at a 50 percent shooting rate while scoring 33 points in the first half of Saturday's WIAA Division 5 state championship game with Reedsville.

And then Reedsville decided that was enough of that.

The Panthers' swarming defense, quick hands and correct rebounding position helped to limit Southwestern to 26 percent shooting and a measly 15 points after intermission.

The result? The first WIAA state championship since 1946 for the Manitowoc County school.

Reedsville made enough shots and played about as well as possible on defense for the final 18 minutes to post a 56-48 victory at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Senior Arden Strenn Arden Strenn 6'3" | SF Reedsville | 2026 WI was the player of the game for Reedsville as the physical and skilled 6-foot-3 forward finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. All but one of Strenn's rebounds came at the defensive end of the court, helping to limit second-chance opportunities for Southwestern.

Of course, senior lead guard Ben Prochnow Ben Prochnow 5'10" | PG Reedsville | 2026 State WI also had his usual strong performance for the Panthers. The son of Reedsville coach Ron Prochnow had 19 points, four rebounds and eight assists to close out a remarkable four-year career that included 1,804 points and 84 victories.

Reedsville led 35-33 at intermission and took the lead for good on a turnaround jump shot in the lane from Prochnow with 9:32 left.

Although Southwestern remained within striking distance until the final minutes of the game, the Wildcats simply could not string together enough baskets to overcome Reedsville.

Southwestern was led by seniors Remi Lawrence Remi Lawrence 6'1" | SG Southwestern | 2026 WI , Cayden DeMuth Cayden DeMuth 6'2" | PF Southwestern | 2026 WI and Aiden Keleher Aiden Keleher 6'1" | CG Southwestern | 2026 State WI as all three finished with 13 points for coach Clint Nemitz's squad.

The Wildcats came into the state tournament as the most prolific three-point shooting team in the D5 field. However, they made just five-of-24 tries from deep for 21 percent against Reedsville's effective defense.

Reedsville, champions of the Big East North Conference, concludes its season with a 28-3 record and now is 5-0 in state-tournament games, finishing 3-0 to win the one-class event in 1946 and 2-0 this time around in capturing the D5 championship.

Southwestern, which finished third in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League but did split its two outings with league-champion Darlington, completes its season with a 24-7 mark and now is 2-2 in state-tournament games going 1-1 this season and 1-1 and losing the Class C title game in overtime to Greenwood in 1988.

BOXSCORE

Southwestern (33-15 = 48)
Lawrence 13, Keleher 13, Splinter 7, DeMuth 13, D. Martin 0, S. Martin 2, Reuter 0, Foley 0, C. Keleher 0, Stangl 0, Hendricks 0, Bauer 0. Three-point field goals made: A. Keleher 2, Lawrence 1, Splinter 1, DeMuth 1. FT: 1-3. Fouled out: Splinter. Record: 24-7.
Reedsville (35-21 = 56)
Taddy 9, Strenn 20, B. Prochnow 19, Z. Prochnow 2, Schwahn 6, McDonald 0, Christensen 0, Schwahn 0, DeCleene 0, Preston 0. Three-point field goals: Strenn 3, Schwahn 2. FT: 11-15. Fouled out: None. Record: 28-3.